Ethical Cooking Gifts & Tips
You might say that ‘ethical cooking’ is a strange term but when you think about it you’re probably already following a set of ethics every time you cook a meal. There was a time when free-range eggs were the exception rather than the rule, now of course it is frowned upon to be buying eggs laid by battery hens. If you take a look through your cupboards and you’re likely to find fairtrade or organic products. However there is more you can do. If you, or someone you know, is a keen amateur chef then there are plenty more ways to make cooking even more ethical including buying ethical gifts for the budding Gordon Ramsay in your life.
Ethical cooking and dining
Whether you’re cooking the family meal or you’re having a dinner party for friends, there are a few easy steps you can take to ensure a successful and ethical dinner:
Ingredients
We’ve already mentioned the popularity of free range eggs and sales are now hitting the £2 billion per year mark. Battery egg sales are plummeting and by 2012, eggs laid by caged hens will be a thing of the past as a ban is due to be implemented. All the major supermarkets are joining in to support free range produce because the demand from the public is stronger than ever.
Take an interest in where your ingredients come from and how they were grown or raised. Free range and organic produce is not only more ethically sound, it is also more nutritious which can only be a good thing for health.
Try to buy produce that is in season. We’ve become so used to having any type of fruit and vegetable at any time of the year but the fact remains that buying produce that is in season is more cost-effective, fresher and better for the environment.
Environmental impact
Actively seek out information about your food. ‘Food miles’ is an often used phrase and relates to the distance travelled from source to point of purchase. Be aware however that fuel consumption is not always judged on distance. A container ship full of apples travelling from another country can use less fuel than trucks driving hundreds of miles up and down this country. Buying locally is best to maintain freshness of food but don’t be over-enthusiastic as many poor countries rely on income from fruit and vegetable exports.
If you’re buying fish, find out how it has been caught and whether the stocks are sustainable. Fish is a rapidly depleting food source across the planet and some of the methods involved in fishing are detrimental to animal welfare and the environment.
Meat farming is having a major impact on the environment. While you don’t necessarily have to abstain from eating it, having a few meat free days every week can make a big difference. Did you know that a steak dinner for a family of four is roughly equivalent (energy wise) to driving around in 4×4 family car while leaving all your house lights on.
Grow your own
It is possible to become self-sufficient by growing your own vegetables and fruit. If you’ve a garden, patio or even just a window box, you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually grow yourself. Why not buy an organic garden gift voucher and grow your own tomatoes, peas, courgettes, runner beans and even strawberries.
Serving your food
You can even be ethical in the way you prepare and serve your food. Buy plates, utensils, chopping boards and bowls made from sustainable materials such as bamboo. Bamboo is a fast growing plant which is easily renewable therefore having very little impact on the environment. There are a number of stylish bamboo products for the kitchen and home.